2. FLOORING
• Floor covering is a term to generally describe any finish
material applied over a floor structure to provide a walking
surface.
• Flooring is the general term for a permanent covering of a
floor, or for the work of installing such a floor covering. Both
terms are used interchangeably but floor covering refers more
to loose-laid materials.
• Materials almost always classified as floor covering include
carpet, area rugs, and resilient flooring such as linoleum or
vinyl flooring.
• Materials commonly called flooring include wood flooring,
laminated wood, ceramic tile, stone, terrazzo, and various
seamless chemical floor coatings.
3. FLOORSYSTEMS
• For proper selection of floor systems, designers should take into account
many factors, including
• use of lightweight-concrete slabs, subfloors in direct contact with the
ground, radiant heating, air conditioning, possible necessity for
decontamination, dustlessness, traffic loads, and maintenance costs-all of
which have an important bearing on floor selection.
• Consideration should be given to current standards of styling, comfort,
color, and quietness.
• The primary consideration of the designer of a flooring system is to select
a floor covering that can meet the maximum standards at reasonable cost.
• To avoid the dissatisfaction that would arise from failure to select the
proper flooring, designers must consider all the factors relevant to flooring
selection.
• This session summarizes the characteristics of the major types of floor
coverings and describes briefly methods for the proper installation of
these materials.
4. FLOORSYSTEMS
Tile flooring
• It includes Ceramic tiles, Vitrified tiles, Mosaic tiles, Cement tiles
• Ceramic tiles-Ceramics for tile include earthenware (terracotta), stoneware
or porcelain.
• Stoneware is harder and more durable than earthenware, and so more
suitable for floors, but there is a slight difference between porcelain and
ceramic tiles.
• Terracotta is traditionally used for roof tiles, but other manufactured
materials including types of concrete may now be used.
5. Cement tiles
• This is one the oldest types of flooring
tiles in use.
• It is made of , as name suggests,
cement. In India, such tiles were
common choice for flooring in homes
and other buildings till late 1990s until
when ceramic floor tiles were
introduced.
Ceramic tiles
• Ceramic tile is made of clay and silica,
which is permanently hardened using
kiln at high temperature (Up to 1250
degree Celsius).
• Ceramic tiles can be glazed or used
without glazing. Glaze is lustrous
material which gives smooth finish to
a tile.
MATERIALSFORFINISHES
Ceramic tile comes in a wide array of sizes, shapes, textures and finishes to
give you the creative freedom to update any wall of your room. Natural hues
and bright shades can enhance indoor and outdoor areas with the look you
choose. This wall tile is durable, fire- and moisture-resistant, and easy to
clean, which makes it a smart option for your bathroom, kitchen or fireplace.
6. MATERIALSFORFINISHES
Glazed tiles (or Glaze tiles)
Glazed tiles or Glaze tiles are nothing but ceramic
tiles with glaze coating.
As explained above ceramic tiles are coated with
glaze to give it better smooth lustrous finish.
It can glossy or bit matt finish depending up on
materials used to prepare glaze. Glaze makes it
possible to create various prints and colors.
7. Vitrified tiles
• Vitrified tiles are created through process of vitrification.
Which is again process where the composition of clay and silica
is hardened to become non-porous (having very low water
absorption rate ).
• Vitrified tiles are mostly are mixed in the complete body full
body tiles where pigments so the pattern on the surface can
remain intact against wear and tear.
Porcelain tiles
• Porcelain tiles can be considered vitrified tiles. Porcelain tiles
are made using dust firing method to produce more density
and hardness. Since porcelain tiles has water absorption rate of
0.5% it is considered to be vitrified tiles.
MATERIALSFORFINISHES
8. Glazed vitrified tiles
• Vitrified tiles sometime are glazed just like normal ceramic tiles.
• So there’s additional glaze coating which makes it even harder.
Glazed vitrified tiles enables more colour and designs on tiles body
compared to non-glazed vitrified tiles where pigments are randomly
mixed in the body and there’s not much creative control on design
patterns.
Polished vitrified tiles
• Vitrified tiles are sometime polished at last stage in production.
Polishing wheel remove very thin layer of vitrified tiles surface which
gives glossy finish just like natural stone.
Digital tiles
• In recent times digital printing technology was introduced which
works in similar fashion to how inkjet printer work for paper based
printing. Specially made inks are used to print the glazed ceramic and
vitrified tiles. Printer has micro precision and thus it is able to print
very high resolution images on the tiles surface.
MATERIALSFORFINISHES
9. Glass tiles
• Glass tiles as the name suggest are made of
glass.
• Color is either fused with the molten glass ,
which gives the color to complete body of
glass tiles, or it is layered on one side of glass
tiles. In either case color will never fade.
• Glass tiles are almost always used in form of
mosaic tiles. Which mean they are cut into
smaller pieces and then laid on the surface
in mosaic format which gives better creative
freedom in creating pattern by laying pieces.
MATERIALSFORFINISHES
10. Mosaic tiles
• Mosaic tiles are one of the most attractive wall
coverings.
• The very small size of the tiles can create great
compositions by pieces with different hues.
• Can also be used as wall decorative element and be
combined with ceramic tiles of more big size.
MATERIALSFORFINISHES
• The size of the one glass tile is 10×10 mm
and before application these tiles are
mounted on berglasssheet of 327 x 327
mm.
• Mosaic tiles are more difficult to fix than
usual ceramic wall tiles but these glass
tiles can create an amazing energizing
effect and give unlimited creative
freedom.
11. 10×60 RECTIFIED TILES
• The 10x60 is a long and rectangular rectified
size used for floors and walls. It can be
combined in infinite flooring compositions.
22.5x45 tiles
• Designed especially for walls, the 22.5x45
size provides perfect aesthetic continuity
between floor and walls.
10x10 tiles
• The 10x10 size is ideal for walls, especially for
tiles behind kitchen units and for walls that
are not perfectly straight.
MATERIALSFORFINISHES
12. 30x60 tiles
• Rectangular 30x60 cm tiles can be used
either alone or in combination with the
60x60 size, on floors and - above all - on
walls to play with shapes and colours to
great effect.
1-Inch Square Mosaic
• Mosaic tile is individual tesserae in 1-inch
by 1-inch squares. Typically, twelve rows
by twelve columns of mosaic tiles are
joined to form a sheet that is roughly 1-
foot by 1-foot square.
MATERIALSFORFINISHES
14. APPLICATION
Tile flooring
• Ceramic tile construction. For interior floors: (a) portland-cement mortar bed on a
concrete subfloor (18MM TO 28MM) ; (b) bond coat of dry set or latex portland-
cement mortar on a concrete subfloor; (c) epoxy bond coat on a concrete subfloor; (d
) reinforced mortar bed on a wood subfloor. For an outdoor walkway: (e) portland-
cement mortar bed on a concrete base.
• For roofs: ( f ) reinforced mortar bed on crushed stone.
15. APPLICATION
Organic Mastic – 2-3mm thick
The oldest tile adhesive still on the market today is organic adhesive, or mastic.
Mastic is used primarily for ceramic tiles, with compounds available for both wall
and floor installations. Mastic comes pre-mixed. Mastic is used for ceramic tiles
and must be applied quickly to avoid losing its adhesive properties through
premature drying.
16. APPLICATION
• Floor Tile Adhesive - is a single component ready to use polymer modified
grey tile adhesive introduced for fixing tiles on floors in interiors.
• Ensure that old tiles are perfectly joint and having uniform level. If any hollow
space is present same should be filled by the mortar
• Tiles should be rinse with water to remove dust & loose particles
• Take Floor Tile Adhesive in a mixing tub, add water to make lump free mortar
consistency (Adhesive water mixing ratio 3:1 by volume)
• Wait for 4 minutes and then mix it with the help of a trowel
• Apply mix material on the surface at 3-5 mm thickness, spread it with the
help of notched trowel, do not spread in more than 1sq m of area at a time.
Press the tile firmly, hammer gently with soft mallet to ensure perfect bond
• Clean the excessive adhesive from the joints
• grout of required color to fill the gaps between the tiles but same should be
strictly done after 24 hrs of tile application
• Leave the tile applied area untouched for 24 hrs
• Clean the tools & equipment’s with potable water immediately after use
For certain tiling jobs, adhesives(MASTIC) offer an easy to apply alternative to
traditional thin-set mortars. Using a tile adhesive instead of a mortar depends on
several things.
17. APPLICATION
Thinset Mortar
Thinset mortar is a mixture of Portland cement, sand,
water and additives to retain moisture. Latex is added by
many companies to varying degrees for use with different
types of tile. Thinset mortar differs from mastic or "mud
set" adhesives in its application. A thin layer of mortar is
used to hold the tile down, and small amounts of mortar
can be mixed at a time to ensure the mortar does not dry
prematurely.
18. Resilient Floors - (abletorecoilorspringbackintoshapeafterbending,
stretching,orbeingcompressed.)
• Floors made from materials such as PVC, linoleum, rubber etc are called
resilient floors. Resilient floors are generally laid in offices, computer rooms,
showrooms etc.
• Resilient floors are very much used nowadays in places such as libraries,
computer rooms etc. They should be carefully laid by workmen experienced in
such jobs.
• They are not as permanent as concrete, stone,terrazzofloors but are ideally
suited for special situations.
22. FLOORSYSTEMS
• RUBBER FLOORING
• Rubber flooring is composed of natural
rubber with various filling compounds.
Because of the high cost of rubber, it is
rather expensive.
• They are produced in sheets and also in
tile form. An even subfloor is very
essential for successful rubber flooring
and the laying of these floors is a
specialized job.
• All these floors should be laid on a
thoroughly damp-proof surface as
otherwise moisture slowly rots the base
and damages the adhesive resulting in
the sheets/tiles being separated from the
base.
• Then they tend to curl up. The subfloor
drying can be determined accurately by
electrical resistance test or hygrometer
test.
23. FLOORSYSTEMS
• RUBBER FLOORING
• The moisture content should not be more than 5 to 6 percent for good results.
• A qualitative determination can be made by sealing a sheet glass of 300X300mm on
the surface of the floor to be tested by putty (or any other suitable sealing material)
and observing the surface after 24 hours. If the covered area of the glass is darker
than its uncovered area, the floor is considered too wet and should be allowed to
dry.
• Unless it is specifically required, it is better to avoid these materials for use in ground
floors. PVS and linoleum are not used for skirting and dados. Wood is preferred for
such works with these floors.
24. FLOORSYSTEMS
RUBBER FLOORING
• Rubber flooring is intended for use on rigid subfloors, such as smooth-finished or
screeded concrete supported above grade, or on structurally sound plywood or
hardwood subfloors.
• Rubber is not recommended for use below grade. When used at grade, it must be
applied with an alkaline, moisture-resistant adhesive.
• Rubber mats or runners may be laid without adhesive over relatively smooth
surfaces.
• Large mats generally are installed in a recess in the concrete floor at building
entrances. The mats are ribbed or perforated for drainage.
• Most rubber flooring is produced from styrene-butadiene rubber. Reclaimed rubber
is added to some floorings. The flooring also contains mineral pigments and mineral
fillers, such as zinc oxide, magnesium oxide, and various clays.
• Another synthetic-rubber flooring, chlorosulfonated polyethylene (Hypalon), also is
available.
• Rubber floorings can be obtained in thicknesses of 3⁄32, 1⁄8, or 3⁄16 in. They have
excellent resistance to permanent deformation under load. Yet they are resilient and
quiet under foot.
25. FLOORSYSTEMS
• ASPHALT TILES
• These tiles are intended for use on rigid subfloors, such as smooth-finished or
• screeded concrete, structurally sound plywood, or hardboard floors not subject to
• excessive dimensional changes or flexing. The tiles can be satisfactorily installed
• on below-grade concrete subject to slight moisture from the ground.
• Low cost and large selection of colors and designs make asphalt tile an economically
• desirable flooring.
• Asphalt tile is composed of mineral fibers, mineral coloring pigments, and inert
• fillers bound together. For dark colors the binder is Gilsonite asphalt; for
intermediate
• and light colors, the binder may consist of resins of the cumarone indene type
• or of those produced from petroleum. Tiles most commonly used are 9 9 in and
• 1⁄8 in thick.
• Colors are classified into groups A, B, C, and D, graded from black and dark
• red (A) to cream, white, yellow, blue, and bright red (D). Cost is generally lower
• for the darker colors.
• .
26. FLOORSYSTEMS
ASPHALT TILES
• To avoid permanent indentations in asphalt tiles, contact surfaces of furniture or
• equipment should be smooth and flat to distribute the weight. This is particularly
necessary for installations over radiant-heated floors and on areas near windows
exposed to sun.
• Never use on asphalt tiles waxes containing benzene, turpentine, or naphtha type
solvents and free fats or oils.
• Avoid strong detergents or cleaning compounds containing abrasives or preparations
not readily soluble in water.
• These may soften the tiles and cause colors to bleed. Grease, oils, fats, vinegar, and
fruit juices allowed to remain in contact with asphalt tiles will stain and soften them.
• Because of these restrictions, asphalt tiles are not recommended for use in kitchens
or bathrooms
27. FLOORSYSTEMS
CORK TILES
• Cork flooring is intended for use on rigid subfloors, such as smooth-finished or
screeded concrete supported above grade and free of moisture, or on structurally
sound plywood or hardboard.
• Cork tile is not recommended for application below grade. When it is installed at
grade, moisture-free conditions must be ensured.
• Cork tile is manufactured by baking cork granules with phenolic or other resin
binders under pressure.
• Four types of finishes are produced: natural, factory prefinished wax, resin-reinforced
wax, and vinyl cork tile (Art. 14.8).
• The tiles are generally 6 6, 6 12, 9 9, 12 12, 12 24, or 36 36 in and 1⁄8, 3⁄16, 5⁄16,
or 1⁄2 in thick.
• Natural cork tile must be sanded (to level), sealed, and waxed immediately after
installation.
• Unless the exposed surface of cork floors is maintained with sealers and protective
coatings, permanent stains from spillage and excessive soiling by heavy traffic will
result.
• Cork tiles are particularly suitable for areas where quiet and comfort are of
paramount importance
28. FLOORSYSTEMS
• Linoleum
• •It is the mixture of an oxidisedlinseed oil, pulverized cork, wood flour, pigments and
colours, all spread in a uniform layer on canvas, the surface of which may be painted
in different patterns. The surface is then afterwards, water-proofed with the help of
an oil paint.
• •It is available in different guages(i.e., thickness 6.7, 6.0, 4.5, 3.2, 2.0 and 1.6 mm),
and is easily cleaned with soap water.
• •It is not affected by oil but slightly affected by acids.
• •Linoleum is available in rolls as well as in tiles.
• •Linoleum is used for floor coverings of hospitals, canteens, residences, offices and
industrial buildings.
29. FLOORSYSTEMS
VINYL FLOORING
• Flooring of this type is un backed.
• It is intended for use on rigid subfloors, such as smooth-finished or screeded
concrete supported above grade, or structurally sound plywood or hardboard floors.
• Vinyl floors are not recommended for use below grade. They must be applied with an
• alkaline, moisture-resistant adhesive when used at grade.
• Vinyl mats or runners may be laid without adhesive over relatively smooth surfaces.
• Large mats generally are installed in a recess in the concrete floor at building
entrances.
• The mats are ribbed or perforated for drainage.
• Vinyl flooring consists predominantly of polyvinyl chloride resin as a binder,
plasticizers, stabilizers, extenders, inert fillers, and coloring pigments. Because of its
unlimited color possibilities and opaqueness to transparent effects, it is widely
• used.
• Common thicknesses are 0.080, 3⁄32, and 1⁄8 in. Since vinyl resins are tough
synthetic polymers, vinyl flooring can withstand heavy loads without indentation,
and yet is resilient and comfortable under foot.
• It is practically unaffected by grease, fat, oils, household cleaners, or solvents. But
unless given a protective finish, it is easily scratched and scuffed.
30. FLOORSYSTEMS
VINYL FLOORING
• Backed Vinyl.
• The family of backed-vinyl flooring comprises vinyl wearing surfaces from 0.02 to
0.050 in thick, laminated to many different backing materials.
• In some products, the vinyl surfaces are unfilled transparent films placed over a
design on paper, cork, or degraded vinyl.
• Filled vinyl surfaces with a 34% vinyl resin binder are placed over plastic composition
backing or asphalt-saturated or resin-impregnated felt. The asphalt-felt type may be
used in moist areas. Foamed rubber or plastic is incorporated in some of these
materials to increase comfort and decrease impact noise.
• Asphalt-felt-backed vinyl materials may be applied with a moisture-resistant adhesive
on concrete at or below grade.
31. FLOORSYSTEMS
VINYL VS LINOLEUM FLOORING
• Vinyl and linoleum are resilient flooring materials that share a number of
characteristics. In fact, many flooring dealers use the terms interchangeably, because
of the similarities between the two finished products. However, there are a number
of vital differences that are both inherent to the production of the materials, and
conspicuous in their long terms use.
MATERIAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN VINYL AND LINOLEUM
• Vinyl: A manufactured man-made product that is produced using petroleum, a non-
renewable resource.
• Large amounts of energy are required in its production in order to extract and
process the chlorine which is a vital component of its chemical makeup.
• Linoleum: A material that is comprised largely of linseed oil, a naturally occurring
substance that is extracted from flax seeds. This is mixed with other natural and
renewable materials such as cork dust, wood flour, and rosin.
32.
33. FLOORSYSTEMS
INSTALLATION OF THIN COVERINGS
• Most manufacturers and trade associations make available instructions and
specifications for installation and maintenance of their floorings.
• The most important requirement for a satisfactory installation of a thin floor covering
is a dry, even, rigid, and clean subfloor.
• Protection from moisture is a prime consideration in applying a flooring over
concrete.
• Moisture within a concrete slab must be brought to a low level before installation
begins.
• Moisture barriers, such as 6-mil polyethylene, 55-lb asphalt saturated and coated
roofing felt, or 1⁄32-in butyl rubber, should be placed under concrete slabs at or
below grade, and a minimum of 30 days’ (90 in some cases) drying time should be
allowed after placement of concrete before installation of the flooring.
• Particular care should be taken with installations on lightweight concrete. It always
has a higher gross water requirement than ordinary concrete and therefore takes
longer to dry.
• So a longer drying period should be allowed before installation of flooring. Flooring
manufacturers provide advice and sometimes also equipment to test for moisture.
34. FLOORSYSTEMS
INSTALLATION OF THIN COVERINGS
• As indication of dryness at any given time is no assurance that a concrete slab at or
below grade will always remain dry. Therefore, protection from moisture from
external sources must be given considerable attention.
• All concrete surfaces to receive adhesive-applied, thin flooring must be smooth.
• Also, they should be free from serious irregularities that would ‘‘telegraph’’ through
the covering and be detrimental to appearance and serviceability.
• For rough or uneven concrete floors, a troweled-on underlayment of rubber latex
composition or asphalt mastic is recommended. It can be applied from a thickness of
1⁄4 in to a featheredge. Small holes, cracks, and crevices may be filled with a reliable
cement crack filler.
36. FLOORSYSTEMS
CARPETS
• Extending from wall to wall, carpets are frequently used as floor coverings in
residences, offices, and retail stores.
• They are often selected for the purpose because they offer foot comfort and, being
available in many colors, patterns, and textures, attractive appearance. Rugs, often
used as an alternative in residences, differ from carpets chiefly in being single pieces
of definite shape and usually not covering an entire floor between walls.
• A carpet is a thick, heavy fabric that is usually piled but could be woven or felted. Pile
consists of closely placed loops of fiber, or tufts, that produce a raised surface on a
backing to which they are locked.
• The tufts may be sheared to produce a soft, velvety surface with a wide variety of
patterns and textures.
• Sheared or unsheared, the piled fabric is very resilient, thus contributing to foot
comfort.
37. • 1.BASE- Lay Base Coat Of 100 Mm Thick In The Ratio Of
Cement Concrete 1:8:16 ( 1 Part Of Cement, 8 Parts Of Fine
Sand And16 Parts Of Brick Blast) Or 1:4:8 On Compacted Earth
Under The Floor. The base is same for all types of floors.
• 2. FINSHING- Then finishing of the floor is carried on, for
different flooring materials. As we will discuss here the
finishing of terrazzo, brick, stone and cement concrete floor.
38. • NATURAL STONE FINISHES includes Shahabad, Kota, Cuddapah, different types of
Marble, Granite, Sandstone, limestone, slate, quartzite etc.
• Shahabad stone - Shahabad town in Gulbarga district is a centre for Shahabad stone
activities. Shahabad is a variety of limestone from this part of Karnataka bordering
Andhra Pradesh.
• Easy to work with and economical, traditionally it has been popular in public
buildings.
• Being fairly hard, it lasts long without surface blemishes. Generally available in grey
shades, the neutral colour helps in masking dust and easy maintenance.
FLOORSYSTEMS- STONEPAVING
39. STONE PAVING
• Cuddapahstones, again from Andhra Pradesh, with the place name extended to the
material. With its near-black colour, Cuddapah offers a great contrast at an
affordable price.
• Comparatively softer, it is safe to use it in conjunction with Shahabad or in areas of
lesser wear and tear.
• With its tendency of surface layering and pitting, it may not be ideal in all contexts,
but goes well with rustic needs and other uses like storage shelves or counter tops.
• Flooring finished with unpolished Cuddapah side on top creates a textured look, to
contract with the possibly smooth looks elsewhere.
FLOORSYSTEMS
40. STONE PAVING
Kota Stone -is a fine-grained variety of limestone, quarried at Kota district, Rajasthan,
India.
• The rich greenish-blue and brown colours of this stone are most popular. It is an
excellent building stone.
• It is mainly used for exteriors, pathways, corridors, driveways, balconies, commercial
buildings etc. It is also suitable for use in chemical industries as flooring, wall fixing
and lining. Other colors–black, pink, grey, beige.
• Non slippery, water resistant, non-porous can be rough finished or polished.
• Can be used indoors and outdoors
FLOORSYSTEMS
41. Granite is a common type of igneous rock that is
granular in texture. Granites can be
predominantly white, pink, or gray in color,
depending on their mineralogy.
Granite comes in different finishes, mostly
polished granite is used for interior purposes.
Marble -Different types of marble will bring
different looks to a foyer, hallway, bathroom, or
any room where it is present –and there are
thousands of different types of marble in nearly
every color imaginable. With hues in black,
brown, green, red, white and even pink.
Each slab of stone will have its own unique vein
patterns and streaks of color. Depending on the
type of marble it’s classified as, tones will vary
stone to stone
FLOORSYSTEMS
42. MARBLE
• •Variety of marble available is tremendous:
• Albeta
• Dungri
• Aranga
• Kumari
• Chak dungri
• •Costliest and best marble is the Makrana white: Very soft,
snow white and high quality finishing.
• •Chittor brown, Jaisalmer Yellow, Udaipur green, Baroda
green, Teak Grain marble, Banswana.
• •White base marble price ranges from :
• Rs.30/- to Rs.400/- sq. ft. STONE FLOORING
45. FLOORSYSTEMS
CARPETS
• Fibers used for tufting indoor carpets include wool, acrylic, polyester, continuous-
filament or heat-set spun nylon and nylon with antistatic treatment for high
resistance to soiling.
• In selection of carpeting, consideration should be given to the intensity of traffic
• to which the covering will be subjected; availability of desired colors, patterns, and
• textures; colorfastness; resistance to crushing and matting; soil resistance;
cleanability;
• resistance to fuzzing, beading, and pilling; as measured by bundle wrap and
• latex penetration on the underside of the primary backing; subfloor conditions; and
• installed cost of the carpet.
46. CARPETS
TYPES OF CARPET
• The manufacturing of carpet (carpet styles / types of
carpet ) –which can be described as sewing strands of
yarn into a backing material-creates thousands of yarn
loops.
• When the loops are cut, we create a CUTPILE carpet,
often known as PLUSH or texture carpet and even
friezes.
• When the loops remain uncut, we create a LOOP
carpet.
• These two options can be combined to create various
CONSTRUCTION possibilities:
• 1.PILE
• In textiles, pile is the raised surface or nap of a fabric,
which is made of upright loops or strands of yarn.
• Examples of pile textiles are carpets, corduroy, velvet,
plush and Turkish towels.
The types of pile include
1. looppile
2. Uncut pile
3. Cut pile
4. Knotted pile
5. Tufted pile
6. Woven pile
7. Cord pile
8. Twist pile
56. FLOORSYSTEMS
Installation of Carpet.
• Carpet is supplied usually in widths of 12 or 15 ft
in rolls in long lengths. It may be cut to desired
sizes and shapes with a carpet knife.
• Strips of carpet are laid side by side to extend
the covering from wall to wall. Joints may be
stitched or taped.
• Installation should conform to recommendations
of the carpet manufacturer. In general, carpet
may be laid on any firm, smooth floor.
• Carpets with jute or synthetic secondary backing
generally should be stretched over a good-
quality pad, to eliminate bulges, and anchored at
the walls with tacks or tackless strips.
• With this type of installation, carpets may be
removed easily when replacement is necessary.
However, they must still be cleaned in place, may
require restretching, and can be difficult to
repair. (Power stretchers should be used for
carpets with synthetic secondary backing.)
57. FLOORSYSTEMS
Installation of Carpet.
• Alternatively, this type of carpet may be directly cemented to subfloors, eliminating
an underlying pad and future restretching.
• But wearability may be lower and there may be a greater tendency to soil under
heavy traffic.
• Carpets with high-density foam-rubber backing also may be cemented directly to
subfloors. Such carpets, however, are not suitable for carrying heavy traffic and may
be difficult to remove when replacement is necessary.
• In all cases, use of chair pads under castered chairs is desirable.
58. FLOORSYSTEMS
• TERRAZZO
• A Venetian marble mosaic, with portland cement matrix, terrazzo is composed of two
parts marble chips to one part portland cement. Color pigments may be added.
• Three methods of casting in place portland-cement terrazzo atop structural concrete
floor slabs are commonly used:
• sand cushion, bonded, and monolithic.
• Sand-cushion (floating) terrazzo is used where structural movement that might
injure the topping is anticipated from settlement, expansion, contraction, or
vibration.
• This topping is at least 3 in thick. First, the underlying concrete slab is covered with a
1⁄4- to 1⁄2-in bed of dry sand.
• Over this is laid a membrane, then wire-fabric reinforcing. The terrazzo underbed is
installed to 5⁄8 in below the finished floor line. Next, divider strips are placed and
finally, the terrazzo topping.
59. FLOORSYSTEMS
TERRAZZO
Bonded terrazzo has a minimum thickness of 1 - 3⁄4 in.
• After the underlying concrete slab has been thoroughly cleaned and soaked with
water, the surface is slushed with neat portland cement to ensure a good bond with
the terrazzo.
• Then, the underbed is laid, divider strips are installed, and terrazzo is placed.
Monolithic terrazzo
• It is constructed by placing a 5⁄8-in topping as an integral part of a green-concrete
slab. Adhesive-bonded monolithic terrazzo with an epoxy resin adhesive also has
been used successfully, with a topping thickness of only 3⁄8 in.
• Terrazzo may be precast. It generally is used in this form for treads, risers, platforms,
and stringers on stairs.
• Portland-cement terrazzo, should not be used in areas subject to spillage, such as
might be encountered in kitchens.
• Other matrix materials used with marble chips include rubber latex, epoxy, and
• polyesters. Suppliers should be consulted for installation details.
60. FLOORSYSTEMS
WOOD FLOORS
• Both hardwoods and softwoods are used for floors. Hardwoods most commonly
used are maple, beech, birch, oak, and pecan. Softwoods are yellow pine, Douglas
fir, and western hemlock.
• The hardwoods are more resistant to wear and indentation than softwoods.
• Hardwood strip floorings are available in thicknesses
• Softwood strip flooring
• Solid-unit wood blocks for floors are made from two or more units of stripwood
flooring fastened together with metal splines or other suitable devices.
• A block usually is square. Tongued and grooved, either on opposite or adjacent
sides, it is held in place with nails or an asphalt
• A laminated block is formed with plywood comprising three or more plies of wood
glued together. The core or cross bonds are laid perpendicular to the face and back
of the block. Usually square, the block is tongued and grooved on either opposite
or adjacent sides.
• The most common thickness is 1⁄2 in, but other thicknesses used are 3⁄8, 7⁄16,
5⁄8, and 13⁄16 in.
• Laminated blocks are installed with adhesives
70. FLOORSYSTEMS
WOOD FLOORS
Parquet is a geometric mosaic of wood pieces used for
decorative effect in flooring.
Parquet patterns are often entirely geometrical and
angular—squares, triangles, lozenges—but may
contain curves. The most popular parquet flooring
pattern is herringbone.
